On Friday 28th of March 2025, the National Association of University Students (NAUS) southwest zone organized a press conference at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos state to address the increment in telecom tariffs, insecurity on various campuses, epileptic power supply in universities and also the clinical lecturers’ strike affecting medical students in the several south-west schools.
The program which started some minutes past 1 pm had in attendance the NAUS national vice president (southwest), Campus monitoring committee(CNC) chairmen in the southwest, the Student Union President of the University of Ibadan, executives of the UI’SU and various student leaders from various south west university.
Speaking on the issues, the NAUS VP southwest, Comrade Tiamiyu Ibraheem (Principle) in his statement condemned the current situation of things in all the highlighted issues and called for urgent government intervention or risk the union being forced to take “decisive actions” on the issue.
On the Telecom Tariffs increase, Comrade Ibraheem noted that Nigerian students have to rely heavily on internet services for their academic activities, research and virtual learning and so the increments in tariffs have further deepened the financial strain on students already grappling with economic hardship.
In his words, “By increasing telecom tariffs, these critical academic engagements are being disrupted”.
On insecurity on campuses, he said that the alarming rise in security threats to students within and around university campuses currently poses a serious risk to students’ safety.
“Cases of Kidnapping, cult-related violence, theft and physical assault have become prevalent leaving students to live in constant fear”, he said.
On power supply, he noted that persistent power outages in many tertiary institutions have severely disrupted academic activities with students facing constant disruptions in their practical sessions.
“Laboratories, libraries, ICT centres, hostels and other key facilities remain underutilized due to unreliable electricity”, Comrade Ibraheem said.
On Clinical lecturers’ strike, Comrade Ibraheem “the ongoing strike by the clinical lectures has placed medical students in a precarious academic position.
This development threatens the future of our healthcare system as medical students are unable to continue that training.
Additionally, on the state of student welfare on campuses, he talked about how students face worsening living conditions, poor hostel facilities, inadequate healthcare services and unsanitary environments that have contributed to poor mental and physical well-being among students.
To address all the highlighted issues, NAUS called for an urgent renovation of dilapidated hostels and learning facilities, enhancement of security measures to ensure the safety of students on all campuses, an immediate reversal of the telecom tariff hike, urgent measures to stabilize power supply within universities, immediate intervention by government to improve students’ welfare and a swift resolution of the clinical lecturers’ strike.
The union stated that it is prepared to take decisive actions if its friendly demands are ignored, reiterating its commitment to the sustainability of peace in the country but also stating that it is always ready to stand steadfastly in kicking against issues affecting the well-being of its members.
While answering a question fielded to him by an Arise News reporter on what decisive actions the union would be looking to explore in the event of non-compliance to their demands, Comrade Ibraheem stated that he believes the government of Nigeria would do the needful but if anything happens otherwise, the union believing in the 3 Cs of Aluta –consultation, consolidation and confrontation– would not shy away from a confrontation if needs be.
When asked about the state of the union, the Students’ union President of the University of Ibadan, Comrade Odedele Covenant talked about how currently the University of Ibadan is on an academic session break and so there is not much happening with only the Industrial Training and Teaching practice students still on campus.
He however stated that the major crisis before the UI’SU is the issue of the clinical lecturers’ strike which affects her medical students presently, and also those of UNILAG and OAU, putting them out of learning for over 104 days now.
He noted that several meetings at consultations for crisis resolution and advocacies have been held, with the UI’SU having met with the Chairperson of the Medical and Dental Consultants, the body of lecturers currently on strike and it becoming apparent that a peaceful resolution is currently elusive as there is no concrete plan for a resumption anytime soon.
He also mentioned the recent rejoinder put out by UI’SU giving an Ultimatum till the 4th of April for the Federal government to step in and resolve the strike or risk University of Ibadan students and other affected students hitting the streets to demonstrate their displeasure with the current situation on the ground.
While the event ended some minutes past 3 pm, the NAUS VP had called on all students in the Southwest to remember that, “Together, we can amplify our voices to demand positive change and ensure we get the quality education we deserve. Our Collective strength lies in our unity and we must remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice and improved welfare for Nigerian students”. “Enough is enough — the future of Nigerian students cannot continue to be kept at risk due to an attitude of neglect and insensitivity.”
